Random Acts of Kindness

An interesting thing happened at work yesterday. As you may know, I work in casualty support for the Department of National Defence. We provide support services for injured members and their families, and handle all the assistance and funeral arrangements for those who have fallen in combat. About 80% of my colleagues are military and wear the uniform.

Well yesterday, a group of about 5-6 of them went out to lunch. When they got their bill they noticed that things didn't add up. When they mentioned it to the waitress she replied that the woman at the other table had paid for all their drinks. When they went up to thank her the woman simply replied ' Thank you for wearing that uniform'. Just a random act of kindness. Although a lot of people do not support the war, most people will support the troops, and buying a round of drinks was this woman's way of showing her support.

It's interesting to see how we are seeing more and more of these random acts of kindness. I remember seeing a picture of someone in the days following 9/11 who was giving away free hugs. Or, more recently, Garden Guerillas have taken over some cities and plant flowers on city property just for the sake of embellishment. I've been known to offer bottles of water to the garbage guys on a hot summer day, or hot chocolate to the postman during a cold winter run. I believe that more and more of these acts of kindness can make a difference. Everyone needs to feel appreciated and even though the garbage guys, the postman, or my military colleagues make a decent living and need not rely on other people's charity to buy their drinks, these little gestures are a nice way to say thank you. They probably talked about it at the dinner table that night and it just puts a positive spin on life.

What are your thought on this? Have you ever received a random act of kindness or, have you ever given one?

Comments

[Brett Legree]

That sounded really nice!

Hmm. Sometimes when someone is in line in front of me struggling to make change, I'll just throw down what's needed - it helps them out a bit and speeds up the line as well.

I mean, if they are 10 cents short, rather than have them break a twenty, have to fish it out etc., I'll just (literally) pay it forward.

Usually you get a smile!

-Brett

[Urbane Lion]

Brett: I guess it depends how the way you do it. I've thrown a dime at someone who was holding back the line because she absolutely wanted to get rid of all of her pennies. She did not think it was funny but the rest of the people thanked me! Why the heck to we still have pennies anyway?

[Kelly]

Lion,

Love this story. We don't see military folks a lot where I am but the next time I can, I'm going to pass that act on. That's a great one.

Do I perform random acts? Yep. All the time. Read The Best Money I Ever Spent http://maximumcustomerexperience.com/2008/06/23/the-best-money-i-ever-spent/ , if you have a moment. That was a fun one.

If the hug guy is the one I'm thinking of, there's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

Tissue alert: it is so beautiful it will make you smile and think hard and cry. Kinda like this post (well, I didn't cry, but smile and think hard, yeah).

Regards,

Kelly

P.S. Ack! No html allowed? Well, rewritten the ugly way, then.

[Friar]

Last week, a man came to me in the parking lot at night, asking for help.

His friend was dying of cancer, right now, in the hospital, as we spoke. It's really bad, the whole family is messed up.

He and his wife wanted to visit their friend...but he had no money, (he was on disablity, they can barely make ends meet). Can I help him with bus-fare? They have absolutely no money.

If I could drop him off at his house, he could pick up his wife. He's not a bum. He's just on hard times. He'll give me his address, phone number, he'll repay me, etc. etc... All he needs is busfare for the two of them. There and back. Twelve bucks.

He seemed sincere...against my better judgement (how do I know he wont' mug me?) I gave him a lift to his house, and gave him a twenty, and told him not to worry about it.

Afterwards, he was so greatful, I felt good about myself.

(But part of me wonders...did I do an act of kindness and help someone in need? Or was I just a sucker by a great con-artist?).

And was I incredibly stupid for taking a stranger into my car, opening my wallet and giving him cash?

I like to think I helped someone...I guess I'll never know.

[Urbane Lion]

Kelly: Can't watch the video from work (jeopardizes national security) but I have read your post and left a comment. So? When are you moving to our neighborhood? ;-)

[Brett Legree]

Lion,

That is true - you've got to be careful and judge the situation, as some would be offended.

Pennies... ugh. That's something I liked about NZ - no pennies. Nothing smaller than 5 cents. And they have a neat way of rounding all prices up or down (so if something comes out to 19.95 they take your 20.00, but at 20.05 usually they give your nickel back)

Yeah, you never know. I always hold the door for people, for instance. And one time I "offended" a young lady by doing it - she said she was perfectly capable of opening the door herself, even though she had her arms full.

So...

I rushed ahead of her, just a little bit, far enough so that I could open the next door for myself, and then push it closed behind me... and stick out my tongue!

Strangely enough, she smiled...

[Kelly]

Lion,

Original plan to move to Toronto was in about 1999. First postponed, then badly foiled. New ETA: 2015 give or take. Tell the guys to hold on, I'll be right there to pay the tab.

I've lived near bases before, but when I did, I never thought of the military folks as anything different than people in a suit here. Familiarity breeds buy-your-own-drink. The lady must have been from out of town.

Friar,

Whew, glad you're hear to tell that tale. I know LittleVille is different than UrbanJungle down here, but boy, I would NEVER...

We've got folks here who haunt certain parking lots and say the same spiel every day. Friend, sick, need taxi fare, etc. They don't even know they've said it to me before when they do it. Brass cojones. They don't care, because they're dealing in volume.

Yours sounds more sincere, wanting the ride and all. You did the right thing, I think. But did I mention I would NEVER?

Brett,

You're human! Hooray!!! I didn't know Legrees were allowed to be cross!

^^
. .
^
o

Later,

Kelly

[Brett Legree]

Kelly,

I'm human *and* have the most twisted sense of humour this side of the Friar!

I'm just happy it worked though, and I got her to smile...

-Brett

[Friar]

@Kelly

I realize crime in Canada isn't like the States, but I still wonder if what I did was incredibly stupid, putting myself at risk like that?

I blindly trusted someone...and it turned out okay, THIS time.

Oh well, worst thing that happened was I got conned out of 20 bucks...maybe.

But at least I'll get "Good Karma Points" for it.

[Urbane Lion]

Friar: Thanks for the 20 Dude!!!

Brett: Her nose would probably still bleeding if she did that to me. Or when I don't get a thank you when I hold the door open to someone, be it male or female. Burns me!

Kelly: 2015? We'll be waiting!

[Kelly]

Lion,

There's a little Irish bar in Greektown. I can't remember the name but how many Irish places are there in Greektown?

Guaranteed you can find me there in oh, let's say, September 2015, with a pint of Guinness. (Not the place for my love of wine.) I'm buying for every uniformed dude you waltz in with.

Brett, Friar,

Do not waltz in in uniform. I'd buy for you anyway. :)

And Friar, karma counts for a lot in my book. You're a good man.

Later,

Kelly

[Urbane Lion]

Kelly: Greektown in Toronto? I HATE Toronto!And now you're asking me to go to Toronto for free Guinness? OK.... I'll be there looking very thirsty!

[Barbara Swafford]

Hi Lion,

Random acts of kindness aren't just good for us, but are great ways to show others there is "good" in the world.

I always try to smile to people, and will try to lend a helping hand when I can. I know it is a benefit to others and gives me that "feel good" feeling. We can't put a price on that.

[Urbane Lion]

Barbara: Your right. As it also makes you feel great, random acts of kindness can also be a very selfish act. Well, selfish or not, I'm all for it!

[Alex Fayle]

We experienced kindness this weekend. Friday at 1:15 we left the house to go catch the 1:37 train to Valladolid to visit friends. Halfway there, Raul realized he'd forgotten his wallet and traveling in Spain without ID is a huge no-no, so he said "I'll run and go get it."

Halfway home (up hill) he realized he wasn't going to make it but he couldn't stop, so up the six flights of stairs and back down into the street. By this point his chest and lungs were bursting, he was sweating up a storm (speaking of which, did I mention it was pouring rain?) and had tears of disappointment and frustration running down his face.

So, what did he do? He stopped traffic and begged a ride to the station. The guy in the second car he stopped told him to get in and sped up to get Raul back down the hill on time. As Raul was throwing himself out of the car, the guy said "Don't worry, you'll make it. All the lights were green and they're never all green."

Raul arrived at the station just as people were starting to board. If it weren't for the guy who stopped for Raul we would have spent the weekend apart and miserable.

[Urbane Lion]

Alex: OMG, I can just picture poor Raul soaking wet stopping a car. Something straight out of an action movie! We thought this was your Madonna in Paris w/e. I guess it's this upcoming w/e isn't it?